His other band, School of Seven Bells, announced the news on its Facebook page Monday, Dec. 30. "Last night, Dec. 29th 2013, we lost our friend and brother Benjamin Curtis to his fight against cancer," the statement read. "While we had hoped to delay this announcement until a more suitable time when his friends and family could feel better prepared and settled to greet any correspondences from folks attempting to reach out, unfortunately the news has prematurely leaked.

"We can't thank all of you who supported him and his music through the years enough. All of you who attended or participated in the various benefits in and around New York City over the past year since his diagnosis, and of course those who contributed and gave generously to help support him throughout that journey. You made it possible for all of us, and for him, to see how truly loved he was and how many lives he had touched through his music by your gestures."